4.3 Construction and demolition waste

4.3(1)
The primary issues in relation to construction and demolition waste are to address the problem of illegal dumping, divert this waste stream from landfills and properly manage hazardous waste components in this waste stream.

4.3(2)
Section 68 of the Waste Act stipulates substantial penalties for unauthorized disposal of waste, but on their own these will not sufficiently address the issue of illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste. A multipronged approach to the problem will be implemented, including the following elements:

  • Raising public awareness of the issue of illegal dumping.
  • Improving capacity to enforce national legislation and local by-laws in relation to illegal dumping.
  • Establishing and publicizing municipal hotlines for reporting illegal dumping.
  • Incorporating responses to this issue into municipal IWMPs.
  • Putting producers of construction and demolition waste in touch will potential users of such waste.
  • Diverting inert waste from landfill through the landfill acceptance criteria.
  • Promoting reuse through the acceptable use provisions of the WCMS.
  • Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has established an online Waste Exchange System. Although the system is in its infancy, it provides a useful mechanism for private individuals and building contractors to link to potential consumers of construction and demolition waste.

4.3(3)
Although a percentage of this waste stream can be used as landfill cover, due to the volume of construction and demolition waste the priority is to promote recycling and reuse. There is extensive opportunity for recycling and reuse of construction and demolition waste as fill for road embankments, land reclamation and drainage control. Furthermore, when construction and demolition waste can be separated into its constituent components e.g. wood, metal, drywall, rubble, concrete and cardboard/paper, these can be reused as raw materials. The importance of correctly characterizing and separating construction and demolition waste is underlined by the presence of hazardous components such as asbestos in this waste stream.

4.3(4)
To achieve optimum levels of recycling and reuse, and to avoid the need for additional regulatory measures, it is suggested that stakeholders in the construction and demolition sector on a voluntary basis develop a sector-wide Industry Waste Management Plan, with particular attention placed on recycling and recovery, and the associated institutional arrangements funded by the construction industry to promote recycling and recovery and reduce illegal dumping. The ROSE foundation provides a useful model in terms of lubricating oil to be considered for application to the construction and demolition industry.